The Internet is winning again: Donald Trump’s bizarre comments about Haitian immigrants eating cats and dogs have somehow become a viral dance on TikTok.
Trump said migrants were “eating pets” in Springfield, Ohio, an unsubstantiated claim that first appeared on social media during his race with Kamala Harris.
While much of the MAGA internet has turned the statement into an AI-inspired “Pets for Trump” meme, TikTok creators have managed to turn it into a new dance craze.
DailyMail.com has spotted at least a dozen people who have repurposed the song, created by a liberal account called ‘House of Music’ with over half a million followers – in the latest movement.
While there’s no consistency to any of the moves, some people have lip-synced to the former president’s infamous statement, performed group choreography, and even included their own felines in the videos.
The Internet is winning again: Donald Trump’s comments about Haitian immigrants eating cats and dogs have somehow become a viral dance on TikTok
Trump said they were “eating pets” in Springfield, Ohio, an unsubstantiated claim that first appeared on social media during his race with Kamala Harris.
“Some users are calling the song the new ‘Lesbian Anthem’ because of the ‘eating cat’ comment,” wrote journalist Collin Rugg.
Captions used by TikTokers included “Eat the cat 2024,” “They’re eating WHAT?” and “We can’t take anything seriously.”
The moment has become the most memorable and infamous point of Tuesday night’s contest.
“In Springfield, they’re eating the dogs. The people who came here are eating the cats,” the former president said. “They’re eating the pets of the people who live there.”
Harris could be heard muttering “What? This is unbelievable” before adding “how extreme” and laughing.
Social media users took advantage of the bizarre exchange and began sharing dozens of memes under the hashtag #PetsForTrump.
However, while some openly mocked the Republican candidate, others seemed to have been embraced by Trump supporters.
A video made up of AI-generated images shows a dog holding a sign that reads “Haitians ate my mom.”
This is followed by a roll of photos of pets holding signs that say “Vote Trump” and “Trump 2024.”
Springfield has been a flashpoint in the immigration debate since thousands of Haitian immigrants arrived in the city in 2020 to fill vacant jobs.
Haitians, who were already in the country legally, moved to the city and were willing to do the manual labor that the locals were not enthusiastic about.
Within a few years, 20,000 immigrants arrived, swelling Springfield’s population, which was just 58,000 in 2020.
The immigrants are there legally and are eligible to apply for Temporary Protected Status, according to an Immigration FAQ page on the city’s website, which says the total immigrant population in Clark County is about 12,000 to 15,000.
But their arrival has put a strain on medical services and the education system, sparking debates and rumours on social media.
When Trump initially made his comments about immigrants eating pets, ABC News debate moderator David Muir stepped in to say, “I just want to clarify here, you mentioned Springfield, Ohio.
“And ABC News reached out to the city manager. He told us there have been no credible reports of specific allegations of pets being hurt, injured or mistreated by people.”
It was one of the most dramatic moments of a monumental night in the 2024 race, where Harris earned Taylor Swift’s coveted endorsement and was widely declared the winner of the showdown.
He went into the debate last night under pressure to speak in front of an audience expected to number in the tens of millions.
Harris got off to a good start by surprising Trump by approaching him to shake his hand before taking the podium.
Then the subtleties ended.
Trump, who just weeks ago believed he was headed for victory, responded to Harris’s pressure by resorting to the kind of stinging insults and erratic invective he uses at his rallies.
Harris responded by looking amused and occasionally exclaiming “come on,” before declaring it represents a fresh start after the “disaster” of the Trump presidency and saying, “We’re not going back.”
Trump has since insisted that there will be no further debate between the two before the election.